Organized crime ring pillaging forests: Official<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Organized criminals, comprising government officials as well as
\nmilitary officers, were the likely culprits behind the widespread
\nillegal logging in the country, an official said on Monday.<\/p>\n
It also seemed likely that they were involved with an
\ninternational network, according to the ministry's data.<\/p>\n
\"We have reason to believe that government officials and army
\nofficers are involved in illegal logging,\" the director general
\nof forest protection and natural conservation at the Ministry of
\nForestry, I Made Subadia, said.<\/p>\n
Made was speaking to reporters after a hearing with the House
\nof Representatives' Commission III on agriculture, forestry and
\nmaritime affairs.<\/p>\n
Made did not mention if an international network was involved
\nin the crimes, but his ministry data showed that 57 vessels
\nincluding foreign ships from Singapore, Hongkong and the Honduras
\nwere confiscated last year for smuggling illegal logs.<\/p>\n
Along with the 57 vessels, over 1,200 perpetrators of illegal
\nlogging were detained last year during operations to curb illegal
\nlogging.<\/p>\n
Some of the suspects have reportedly been tried, others remain
\nin the hands of the National Police or the Attorney General's
\nOffice.<\/p>\n
Made's revelation confirmed a previous report by the
\nInternational Crisis Group issued last December that illegal
\nresource exploitation was protected and sometimes even organized
\nby corrupt elements in the civil service, security forces and
\nlegislature.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) has also
\nimplied that a member of the People's Consultative Assembly was
\nclosely linked to an illegal logging syndicate in Tanjung Puting
\nnational park in Central Kalimantan.<\/p>\n
According to the office of the state minister of research and
\ntechnology, Indonesia is the second largest wood exporter in the
\nworld after Brazil, but 70 percent of the timber came from
\nillegal logging.<\/p>\n
Illegal logging has reached a dangerous level in the country
\nas it damages not only unprotected forests but also the protected
\nforests.<\/p>\n
The rampant illegal logging has caused various natural
\ndisasters including droughts, floods, landslides and forest
\nfires. It has also jeopardized endangered species.<\/p>\n
Under Law No. 41\/1999 on forestry, anyone convicted of
\nactivities linked to illegal logging, its trade or the purchase
\nof illegal logs could face a maximum sentence of 10 years behind
\nbars and a Rp 5 billion (US$561,700) fine.<\/p>\n
Under Law No 5\/1990 on conservation of natural resources and
\nits ecosystem, anyone involved in illegal activities in national
\nparks or protected areas could face a maximum sentence of 10
\nyears in jail and a Rp 200 million fine.<\/p>\n
Made said the government had tried to stop illegal logging by
\nestablishing cooperation with importing countries such as
\nMalaysia, China and Japan.<\/p>\n
Those countries responded positively to Indonesia's request,
\nbut no formal agreements were reached.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, nevertheless, has secured important cooperation
\nagreements with 12 countries, mostly European countries, and
\neight global organizations to curb illegal logging and forest
\nfires.<\/p>\n
Made also said his ministry, in cooperation with the National
\nPolice and Navy, would raise funds for an operation to curb
\nsmuggling of timber between August and December to Rp 20 billion
\nfrom Rp 5 billion last year.<\/p>\n
His ministry had proposed to President Megawati Soekarnoputri
\nto establish a special agency to protect the national forest.<\/p>\n
He said such an agency would need an emergency fund to carry
\nout necessary actions to prevent illegal logging, forest fires
\nand smuggling of endangered animals.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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